Scripture makes you wise

I have done a lot of writing in the past month, but not here. Here is my personal journal entry for June 26th.

Before I was out of bed today, the bit of scripture from 2 Tmothy 3:15 came to me:"and how from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation..." [yes, I am old enough that it is the KJV which comes to mind!]

I have just been reading the context about the terrible times in the last days; how wicked the people will be, having a form of godliness but denying its power, opposing the truth with depraved minds.

Paul urges Timothy (v.14) "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it."

• Paul had referred in chap 1:5 to Timothy's faith which was first in his grandmother and mother.
• In 2:2 he urges him to teach others what he has heard from Paul before many witnesses.
• In 3:10 he says, "You know about my teachings, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings..."

In other words, your teachers are tested and true. You've seen their lives all your life - it is no pretence.

The snippet of scripture I remembered stopped short. It actually says that the holy scriptures Timothy knew from infancy are able to make him wise unto salvation "through faith in Christ Jesus." Now Paul was necessarily referring to the Old Testament of which Jesus had said "those are they which testify of me." The Pharisees to whom he spoke knew the scriptures very well but would not come to Jesus. Scripture knowledge itself does not save, but is able to make wise "unto faith" or "for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Oh, Lord, what a dearth there is of children being taught the "holy scriptures," especially the Old Testament. Many are taught a few stories - Moses in the bulrushes, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions - but what about the scriptures which "testify" of Jesus? So that, like Timothy, they both learn and become convinced. For without one's own convictions, it is just so much information.